JP2004188820A - Printing device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printing device which realizes the most efficient printing (speed) by changing an operation mode thereof depending on the connection form (USB, IEEE1394, IEEE1284) to a host computer. <P>SOLUTION: The printing device is provided with a connection form identifying means, a power supply selection designating means, and an operating mode instructing means. When an AC source is inputted and the printing device is connected to the host via an IEEE1394 interface, for instance, the printing device receives electric power from the IEEE1394 interface as well, and therefore printing is carried out at a highest speed. If no AC source is inputted and the printing device is connected to the host via a USB interface, the motor speed of the printing device is decreased, and the number of available nozzles of a head is reduced, whereby printing is carried out at a lowest speed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a peripheral device that operates by receiving power from a connection unit with a host computer.
[0002]
[Prior art]
With the spread of the Internet in recent years, the opportunity to perform printing using an inkjet printer, a laser beam printer, or the like is increasing.
[0003]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in order to perform printing, it is necessary to connect a power cable of a printing apparatus and connect a host computer and the printing apparatus with an interface cable, which is very complicated.
[0004]
As means for solving this problem, an apparatus having the following configuration has been proposed. The recording apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H10-272808, etc., uses a PCMCIA interface without connecting a power cable. Is supplied with power from the host computer via the host computer.
[0005]
On the other hand, recent host computers have proposed and implemented a new interface standard that has demanded faster and simpler connectivity as a connection interface with various peripheral devices such as a printing device.
[0006]
As similar interfaces, there are USB (Universal Serial Bus), IEEE1394, and the like. According to the standards of these interfaces, not only a function of transmitting and receiving data but also a function of supplying power to peripheral devices such as a printing device are defined. I have.
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in order to allow an unspecified host computer and an unspecified printing device to be connected to each other, the connection between the host computer and the printing device is made in accordance with a prescribed standard. Conventionally, a parallel interface (also known as IEEE1284) is used. -It was also connected by a serial interface.
[0008]
Therefore, as described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-272808, being limited to a unique connection form called PCMCIA limits the connectable host computers, and is extremely lacking in versatility.
[0009]
Furthermore, there is a problem that it is not practical in today, when new interfaces such as USB / IEEE1394 are becoming widespread.
[0010]
On the other hand, the implementation of each interface is different depending on the host computer, and the old type host computer has no USB interface, the IEEE1394 does not have the implementation, and the new type computer has the opposite. There is a problem that there are those without a parallel interface and those without a serial interface.
[0011]
On the other hand, in recent years, many peripheral devices, for example, printing devices having a plurality of host interfaces have been developed.
[0012]
As the form, there is a combination of IEEE 1284 and USB, IEEE 1394 and USB, IEEE 1284 and IEEE 1394 and USB, and in addition, a combination of wireless interfaces using infrared rays or radio waves. The challenge is how to get it.
[0013]
Furthermore, there is a problem that the definition of the power supply capability in the new interface standard is not unified.
[0014]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention relates to a peripheral device having a plurality of host connection modes, a connection mode identifying means for identifying an interface type connected to the host computer, and an operation of the peripheral device according to the mode of the connected interface. Operation control means for determining and controlling the state and power supply control means for selectively controlling the power supply source according to the form of the connected interface are provided.
[0015]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0016]
The printing apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described using an inkjet printer as an example.
[0017]
(1st Embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a view showing the overall configuration of the present system, wherein 101 is an entire printing apparatus, 102 is a CPU (Central Processing Unit) that controls the operation of the printing apparatus 101 according to a control program prepared in advance, and 103 is a printing apparatus. A gate array in which hardware logic for controlling 101 is integrated, 104 is a ROM (Read Only Memory) storing a control program for the CPU 102, and 105 is a system bus, which functions as an electric component for controlling the printing apparatus 101. Is connected to
[0018]
Reference numeral 106 denotes a DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory), which is used for a working memory area of the CPU, storage of data received from the host computer, storage of data to be transferred to the head, and the like.
[0019]
107 is a control signal bus for the DRAM 106, 108 is a control signal bus for the gate array 103, and 109 is a control signal bus for the ROM 104.
[0020]
Reference numeral 110 denotes an IEEE1284 signal group which is an interface for receiving data from the host computer, 111 denotes a USB signal group, 112 denotes a power supply line from the USB, 113 denotes a group of IEEE1394 signal lines, and 114 denotes a power supply line from the IEEE1394. , 115 are wireless Bluetooth signal line groups.
[0021]
Reference numeral 116 denotes an AC / DC power supply unit that obtains operation power of the printing apparatus 101 from a commercial power supply, and 117 denotes an AC power cord.
[0022]
Reference numeral 118 denotes an output line output from the power supply unit 116, 119 denotes a signal line indicating whether or not the AC / DC power supply unit is in a state capable of supplying power, and 120 denotes a signal from the various power supply sources input to the printing apparatus 101. This is a DC / DC power supply unit for obtaining a desired power.
[0023]
Reference numeral 121 denotes a signal line for setting an operation mode of the DC / DC power supply unit.
[0024]
Reference numeral 122 denotes a print head; 123, a control signal group from the gate array 103 to the print head; 124, a carriage motor for reciprocally scanning the print head 122; 125, a line feed motor for conveying print paper; and 126, an operation unit. .
[0025]
FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the details of the gate array 103. 201 is an operation control unit of the IEEE1284 interface, 202 is an operation control unit of the USB interface, 203 is an operation control unit of the IEEE1394 interface, and 204 is an operation control unit of the BlueTooth interface. It is.
[0026]
Reference numeral 205 denotes a connection mode identification unit that identifies which type of interface is used to connect to the host computer in the operation state of the printing apparatus.
[0027]
206, an internal bus of the gate array 103; 207, a DRAM control unit for operating the DRAM 106; 208, a print data processing unit for generating data to be printed; 209, transfer of print data to the print head 122; Is transmitted.
[0028]
FIG. 3 is a view for explaining the details of the AC / DC power supply unit. In the figure, 301 is a primary-side rectifier diode bridge, 302 is a primary-side smoothing capacitor, 303 is a switching transistor, 304 is a power supply control IC, and 305 is A voltage conversion transformer, 306 is a secondary-side rectifier diode, 307 is a secondary-side smoothing capacitor, 308 and 309 are control resistors, and 310 is a transistor for controlling the output of the signal line 119 described above.
[0029]
In addition, the same reference numerals are given to the portions described with reference to FIGS.
[0030]
FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the details of the DC / DC power supply unit 120. Reference numeral 401 denotes an input selection unit for selecting various power supply sources (USB, IEEE1394, or AC / DC power supply unit). Select one of the inputs according to the selection signal 121 output via the.
[0031]
Reference numeral 402 denotes a step-down regulator for generating power to be supplied to the logic circuit based on the selected power supply, and 403 similarly generates power for driving each motor (CR motor 124 and LF motor 125) and the print head 123. This is a step-up regulator.
[0032]
FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the details of the step-down regulator 402, and shows an example in which TL497C is used for the control IC.
[0033]
In the drawing, 501 is a control IC: TL497C, 502 is an input line from the input selection unit 401, 503 is a transmitter, 504 is a switching transistor, 505 is a catch diode, 505 is a choke coil, 507 is a differential amplifier, and 508 and 509. Is a control resistor, and 510 is a voltage converted voltage output.
[0034]
FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the details of the step-up regulator 403, which is characterized in that the position of the switching transistor is different from that of the configuration of the step-down regulator described in FIG.
[0035]
In the figure, reference numeral 601 denotes an input line from the input selection unit 401, and 602 denotes a voltage output after voltage conversion.
[0036]
603 is a choke coil, and 604 and 605 are control resistors.
[0037]
FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining the overall operation.
[0038]
Hereinafter, description will be made with reference to the drawings.
[0039]
[Step 701] When the user turns on the power from the operation unit 126,
[Step 702] The CPU 102 performs an initialization operation of the printing apparatus 101 according to the control program stored in the ROM 104.
[0040]
[Step 703] The CPU 102 determines an interface connected to the host computer via the connection mode identification unit 205 incorporated in the gate array 103.
[0041]
[Step 704] At the same time, the power supply possible form is determined,
[Step 705] The input selection unit 401 selects and designates a power supply source via the signal line 121.
[0042]
[Step 706] A predetermined operation mode is determined according to the selection in Step 705 (details will be described later with reference to FIG. 8).
[0043]
[Step 707] Monitor the reception of the print data from the host computer (not shown). [Step 708] When the print data is received, the print operation is executed in accordance with the operation mode determined in Step 706.
[0044]
[Step 709] It is monitored whether or not an instruction to turn off the power is made from the operation unit 126. If the instruction to turn off the power is made [Step 709] Processing for terminating the operation of the printing apparatus 101 is performed and the mode shifts to the power-off mode.
[0045]
FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining a specific example of the operation mode designation described in step 706. If the AC / DC power supply unit is usable, the normal operation mode is selected, and the connected interface is switched. In the case of IEEE 1394, the operation mode of power saving 1 is selected, and in the case of USB, the operation mode of power saving 2 is selected.
[0046]
Here, the number of nozzles used by the print head 122 is limited as the operation mode of power saving 1, and the power consumption of the entire printing apparatus 101 is suppressed. In addition, the CR motor 124 and the LF motor 125 are driven at a low speed to reduce the power consumption of the printing apparatus 101.
[0047]
(Second embodiment)
FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining the second embodiment, in which a power supply source for a logic and a power supply source for a motor head can be selected here.
[0048]
FIG. 10 is a view for explaining how the mode is specified in step 706 in the second embodiment shown in FIG.
[0049]
As in the case of FIG. 8, the high-speed A operation mode, the high-speed B operation mode, the normal operation mode, the power-saving A operation mode, The operation mode of power B and the operation mode of power saving C are selected and designated.
[0050]
When the high-speed A operation mode is designated, in the input selection unit 901, the power supply source for the logic is IEEE1394, and the AC / DC power supply is selected as the power supply source for the motor head.
[0051]
In this state, the maximum power can be used for both the logic power supply and the motor / head power supply, the CPU operates with a high-speed clock, and the motor can operate at a higher speed.
[0052]
When the high-speed B operation mode is specified, the USB is selected as the power supply source for the logic, and the power supply is not as high as that of IEEE1394, so the CPU operates with the normal operation clock. Since the power supply for use can occupy the power of the AC / DC power supply, the motor operates at high speed.
[0053]
When the normal operation mode is specified, the power from the AC / DC power supply is divided into the power for the logic and the power for the motor head, so that the normal operation is performed.
[0054]
When the operation mode of the power saving A is designated, power is supplied from the USB for the logic and from the IEEE 1394 for the motor and head. The number is limited, and the power consumption is suppressed.
[0055]
When the power saving B operation mode is specified, power is supplied from the IEEE 1394 for both the logic and the motor / head, the CPU operates at a lower speed than the normal operation clock, the motor operates at the normal operation speed, and the head operates at the number of nozzles used. To reduce power consumption.
[0056]
When the power-saving C operation mode is specified, power is supplied from the USB for both the logic and motor / head use. Power consumption.
[0057]
(Other embodiments)
As described above, in each of the embodiments, the description has been given of the ink jet printer as an example. Some things are self-evident.
[0058]
In each of the operation modes, the operation clock of the CPU, the driving speed of the motor, and the number of nozzles used by the print head have been described as variables. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Anything can be used as a variable.
[0059]
For example, in the case of LBP, a fixing device, etc.
[0060]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, in a printing apparatus that can have a plurality of connection modes, power supplied to the printing apparatus is determined and selected according to the connection mode, and operation control is performed according to the connection mode.
[0061]
That is, by controlling the printing speed in accordance with the obtained power, the most efficient operating environment of the printing apparatus can be realized.
[0062]
Further, it is possible to perform a printing operation according to the power supplied from the interface regardless of the type of the interface.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a first embodiment, and is an overall system diagram of a printing apparatus.
FIG. 2 is a detailed explanatory diagram of a gate array in the printing apparatus.
FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a power supply unit.
FIG. 4 is a detailed explanatory diagram of a power input selection unit.
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a step-down regulator.
FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a boost regulator.
FIG. 7 is an operation flowchart of the first embodiment; FIG. 8 is an operation flowchart of the first embodiment;
FIG. 9 shows a second embodiment.
FIG. 10 is an operation flowchart of the second embodiment.
[Explanation of symbols]
101 printing device 102 CPU
103 Gate array 116 AC / DC power supply unit 120 DC / DC power supply unit 122 Print head 205 Connection form identification unit 401/901 Input selection unit 402 Step-down regulator 403 Step-up regulator

Claims (4)

In a printing device that can have a plurality of connection forms,
Connection form identification means,
Power supply control means according to the connection form,
A printing apparatus comprising an operation control means according to a connection mode. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the operation control means is a mechanism drive control. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the operation control means is a print drive control. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the operation control means is a system control.

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